Electronic device and method for wireless communication, and computer readable storage medium

ABSTRACT

Provided are an electronic device and a method for wireless communication, and a computer readable storage medium, the electronic device comprising: a processing circuit, configured to: perform periodic channel detection for a plurality of unlicenced channels in an unlicenced band according to a first period; and respectively send master system information blocks MIB having the same content to user devices over at least some of the available unlicensed channels in the unlicensed band indicated by the channel detection results, the MIBs comprising part of the minimum system information.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/866,564, filed Jul. 18, 2022, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 16/963,505, filed Jul. 21, 2020 (now U.S. Pat. No.11,425,574), which is based on PCT filing PCT/CN2019/086355, filed May10, 2019, which claims the priority to Chinese Patent Application No.201810474440.9, filed May 17, 2018 with the China National IntellectualProperty Administration, each of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of wirelesscommunications, and in particular to random access on an unlicensedfrequency band. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to anelectronic apparatus and a method for wireless communications and acomputer-readable storage medium.

BACKGROUND

As a next generation of radio access scheme of Long Term Evolution(LTE), New Radio (NR) is a radio access technology (RAT) different fromthe LTE. NR is an access technology applicable to various use cases suchas Enhanced mobile broadband (eMBB), Massive machine type communications(mMTCs) and Ultra reliable and low latency communications (URLLCs).

In NR, an unlicensed frequency band may also be used for communications.The unlicensed frequency band may be used in a standalone (SA) scenarioand a licensed assisted access (LAA) scenario. In the SA scenario, dataand control signaling are both transmitted on an unlicensed frequencyband, and in the LAA scenario, control signaling may be transmitted on alicensed frequency band.

SUMMARY

In the following, an overview of the present disclosure is given simplyto provide basic understanding to some aspects of the presentdisclosure. It should be understood that this overview is not anexhaustive overview of the present disclosure. It is not intended todetermine a critical part or an important part of the presentdisclosure, nor to limit the scope of the present disclosure. An objectof the overview is only to give some concepts in a simplified manner,which serves as a preface of a more detailed description describedlater.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electronicapparatus for wireless communications is provided. The electronicapparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry isconfigured to: perform periodical channel detection on a plurality ofunlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band at a first period;and transmit, on each of at least a part of unlicensed channels of whichchannel detection results indicate that the unlicensed channels areavailable, a master information block (MIB) with the same content touser equipment (UE), respectively, the MIB including a part of minimumsystem information.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a method forwireless communications is provided. The method includes: performingperiodical channel detection on a plurality of unlicensed channels on anunlicensed frequency band at a first period; and transmitting, on eachof at least a part of unlicensed channels of which channel detectionresults indicate that the unlicensed channels are available, a MIB withthe same content to UE, respectively, the MIB including a part ofminimum system information.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, an electronicapparatus for wireless communications is provided. The electronicapparatus includes processing circuitry. The processing circuitry isconfigured to: determine a period for detecting a master informationblock (MIB); and detect a plurality of unlicensed channels on anunlicensed frequency band at the period to acquire the MIB, wherein theMIBs on the plurality of unlicensed channels have the same content, andthe MIB includes a part of minimum system information.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a method for wirelesscommunications is provided. The method includes: determining a periodfor detecting a master information block (MIB); and detecting aplurality of unlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band at theperiod to acquire the MIB, wherein the MIBs on the plurality ofunlicensed channels have the same content, and the MIB includes a partof minimum system information.

According to other aspects of the present disclosure, there are furtherprovided computer program codes and computer program products forimplementing the methods for wireless communications above, and acomputer readable storage medium having recorded thereon the computerprogram codes for implementing the methods for wireless communicationsdescribed above.

With the electronic apparatus and method according to the presentdisclosure, the MIBs are transmitted redundantly on an unlicensedfrequency band, thereby increasing the probability that the userequipment can correctly detect the MIB in a SA scenario, thus realizingreliable transmission of the MIB.

These and other advantages of the present disclosure will be moreapparent by illustrating in detail a preferred embodiment of the presentdisclosure in conjunction with accompanying drawings below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To further set forth the above and other advantages and features of thepresent disclosure, detailed description will be made in the followingtaken in conjunction with accompanying drawings in which identical orlike reference signs designate identical or like components. Theaccompanying drawings, together with the detailed description below, areincorporated into and form a part of the specification. It should benoted that the accompanying drawings only illustrate, by way of example,typical embodiments of the present disclosure and should not beconstrued as a limitation to the scope of the disclosure. In theaccompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functional modules of an electronicapparatus for wireless communications according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic example of redundant transmission of MIBs;

FIG. 3 shows another schematic example of redundant transmission ofMIBs;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a synchronization signal block;

FIG. 5 shows an example of transmission of remaining minimum systeminformation;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic example of adjustment of a transmitting periodof remaining minimum system information;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functional modules of an electronicapparatus for wireless communications according to another embodiment ofthe present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart of a method for wireless communications accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method for wireless communications accordingto another embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a first example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB or a gNB to which the technology of the presentdisclosure may be applied;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a second example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB or a gNB to which the technology according tothe present disclosure may be applied;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematicconfiguration of a smartphone to which the technology according to thepresent disclosure may be applied;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematicconfiguration of a car navigation apparatus to which the technologyaccording to the present disclosure may be applied; and

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of an exemplary block diagram illustratingthe structure of a general purpose personal computer capable ofrealizing the method and/or device and/or system according to theembodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be describedhereinafter in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. For thepurpose of conciseness and clarity, not all features of an embodimentare described in this specification. However, it should be understoodthat multiple decisions specific to the embodiment have to be made in aprocess of developing any such embodiment to realize a particular objectof a developer, for example, conforming to those constraints related toa system and a business, and these constraints may change as theembodiments differs. Furthermore, it should also be understood thatalthough the development work may be very complicated andtime-consuming, for those skilled in the art benefiting from the presentdisclosure, such development work is only a routine task.

Here, it should also be noted that in order to avoid obscuring thepresent disclosure due to unnecessary details, only a device structureand/or processing steps closely related to the solution according to thepresent disclosure are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, andother details having little relationship to the present disclosure areomitted.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing functional modules of an electronicapparatus 100 for wireless communications according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 1 , the electronic apparatus100 includes: a channel detection unit 101 and a transmission unit 102.The channel detection unit 101 is configured to perform periodicalchannel detection on a plurality of unlicensed channels on an unlicensedfrequency band at a first period. The transmission unit 102 isconfigured to transmit, on each of at least a part of unlicensedchannels of which channel detection results indicate that the unlicensedchannels are available, a MIB with the same content to user equipment,respectively, where the MIB includes a part of minimum systeminformation.

The channel detection unit 101 and the transmission unit 102 may beimplemented by one or more processing circuitries, and the processingcircuitry, for example, may be implemented as a chip. Moreover, itshould be noted that, functional units in the apparatus shown in FIG. 1are only logic modules which are divided based on the specific functionsthereof, and are not intended to limit the implementations.

The electronic apparatus 100, for example, may be arranged on a basestation side or may be communicatively connected to a base station. Itshould be noted that the electronic apparatus 100 may be implemented ata chip level or a device level. For example, the electronic apparatus100 may function as a base station itself, and may include an externaldevice such as a memory and a transceiver (not shown in FIG. 1 ). Thememory may store programs and related data information for implementingvarious functions by the base station. The transceiver may include oneor more communication interfaces to support communication with differentdevices (for example, user equipment and other base stations). Theimplementation of the transceiver is not limited here. In addition, thebase station described herein may further include a Transmitting andReceiving Point (TRP).

System Information (SI) may be divided into minimum SI and other SI. Theminimum SI may be broadcast periodically, and includes basic informationrequired for initial access and information required for acquiring otherSI. The other SI may be broadcast periodically or may be provided ondemand. The minimum SI includes a master information block (MIB) andremaining minimum system information (RMSI). The MIB and RMSI may betransmitted via different channels, and the UE may receive the MIBfirst, and then receive the RMSI.

In a SA scenario, the MIB is transmitted on an unlicensed frequencyband. Due to the uncertainty of the channel, the UE may not receive theMIB stably. Similarly, the UE may not receive the RMSI stably.

In the electronic apparatus 100, the channel detection unit 101 is usedto perform channel detection, such as Listen Before Talk (LBT), on aplurality of unlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band todetermine whether the channels are available. If it is detected that Nunlicensed channels are available, the transmission unit 102 transmitsMIBs with the same content on the N channels or a part of the Nchannels, that is, to perform redundant transmission in the frequencydomain, so as to ensure that there is an available unlicensed channel toachieve transmission of the MIB. Accordingly, the UE may listen onmultiple unlicensed channels to ensure that the MIB can be receivedcorrectly. FIG. 2 shows a schematic example of redundant transmission ofMIBs according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 2 , each gray-filled block represents a transmitted MIB. The MIBsrepresented by block 1 and block A have the same information, the MIBsrepresented by block 2 and block B have the same information, and theMIBs represented by block 3 and block C have the same information.

In an example, one or more different unlicensed channels may bedesignated as a fixed system information access anchor for differentoperators. In this case, the channel detection unit 101 detects thedesignated unlicensed channels and transmits the MIBs on the unlicensedchannels of which the detection results indicate that the channels areavailable.

In addition, the transmission unit 102 may be further configured totransmit the MIB on each of the at least a part of unlicensed channelsfor multiple times consecutively within one first period, that is, toperform redundant transmission in the time domain. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 2 , if the MIBs represented by blocks 1 to 3 and the MIBsrepresented by A to C have the same information, redundant transmissionof the MIB in the frequency domain and in the time domain are bothrealized simultaneously. Moreover, FIG. 3 shows another schematicexample of redundant transmission of MIBs in the frequency domain and inthe time domain, in which the MIB is transmitted on each of theunlicensed channels for multiple times within one first period.

For example, the transmission unit 102 may be configured to transmit theMIB via a physical broadcast channel (PBCH).

As described above, the MIB is transmitted periodically with atransmitting period of the first period, which may be called as a PBCHperiod. It should be understood that the terms of “first”, “second”, andthe like herein are used only for distinguishing, and do not representany meaning of order or importance.

The channel detection unit 101 may adjust the first period based onutilization status of the at least a part of unlicensed channels, andthe transmission unit 102 may include information about adjusting of thefirst period in the MIB. The information about adjusting may include,for example, a size of the adjusted period or a rule for adjusting. Dueto the uncertainty of the unlicensed channel, compared with a scenariowhere the MIB is transmitted on a licensed frequency band, the firstperiod for the unlicensed channel may be set to be shorter.

The utilization status of the unlicensed channels may include, forexample, one or more of the following: the number of times fortransmitting the MIB successfully in a predetermined time period; timeelapsed since last time transmitting the MIB successfully. For example,if the number of times for transmitting the MIB successfully in thepredetermined time period exceeds a preset threshold, it may bedetermined that the channel is idle, and a larger first period may beset; and if the number of times for transmitting the MIB successfully ina predetermined time period does not exceed the preset threshold, asmaller first period should be set. Similarly, if the time elapsed sincelast transmitting the MIB successfully is shorter than a preset value(the preset value may be the first period or may be a multiple of thefirst period), it may be determined that the channel is idle, and alarger first period may be set; and if the time elapsed since lasttransmitting the MIB successfully is not shorter than the preset value,a smaller first period should be set.

As an example, the channel detection unit 101 may be further configuredto perform periodic channel detection on a particular unlicensed channelat a second period, and the transmission unit 102 may be furtherconfigured to transmit, on the particular unlicensed channel, RMSI in acase that a channel detection result indicates that the particularunlicensed channel is available.

The RMSI may include information indicating different contents containedin a synchronization signal block (SSB). The SSB is used for completingcell searching and synchronization, and includes a primarysynchronization signal (PSS), a secondary synchronization signal (SSS),and a PBCH. As shown in FIG. 4 , multiple SSBs form an SS burst. Inpractice, there are cases where some of time-frequency resourcesallocated to the SSB are not used, that is, the time-frequency resourcesoriginally reserved for the SSB are idle, so that these time-frequencyresources may be used for transmitting actual control signaling anddata, as shown by the blocks filled with gray diagonal lines in FIG. 4 .The information of positions of the unoccupied SSBs is required to beexplicitly indicated by the base station side to the UE side, so as toensure that the UE side does not receive the SSB at these positions, orreceives control signaling and data at these positions. The RMSI mayinclude the information of the positions. Therefore, the RMSI is veryimportant in correctly receiving other control signaling and data by theUE and in indicating a position where the SSB is actually transmitted.

The RMSI may be transmitted via a physical downlink share channel(PDSCH). Due to the uncertainty of the unlicensed channel, each time theRMSI is to be transmitted, the channel detection unit 101 is required toperform channel detection on the unlicensed channels to ensure that thechannel is available. The transmitting period (or an attemptiontransmitting period) of the RMSI is called a second period. In order toincrease the probability that the UE receives the RMSI, the transmissionunit 102 may transmit the RMSI on the particular unlicensed channelconsecutively for multiple times within one second period. Theparticular unlicensed channel here is, for example, an unlicensedchannel which the UE has accessed or an unlicensed channel via which theMIB is successfully received.

For example, the MIB may include information of a receiving window forthe RMSI. The UE determines a position for receiving the RMSI based onthe information of the receiving window. The UE may attempt to receivethe RMSI in the receiving window until the RMSI is receivedsuccessfully.

Alternatively, information of the number of times for transmitting theRMSI within one second period may be included in the MIB. Since the UEhas received the MIB first, the UE may acquire the information of thenumber of times from the MIB to attempt to perform detection for thenumber of times corresponding to the information. FIG. 5 shows anexample in which the RMSI is transmitted for three times within onesecond period, in which each of the blocks filled with diagonal linesrepresents one transmission of the RMSI. Correspondingly, the receptionof the RMSI may be attempted for three times at the UE side.

In addition, the channel detection unit 101 may adjust the second periodbased on utilization status of the particular unlicensed channel, andthe transmission unit 102 may include information about adjusting of thesecond period in the MIB. The UE may acquire the adjustment of thetransmitting period of the RMSI based on the received MIB. Theinformation about adjusting may include, for example, a size of theadjusted period or a rule for adjusting.

For example, the utilization status of the particular unlicensed channelmay include one or more of the following: the number of times fortransmitting the RMSI successfully in a predetermined time period; and atime elapsed since last transmitting the RMSI successfully. For example,if the number of times for transmitting the RMSI successfully in apredetermined time period exceeds a preset threshold, it is determinedthat the channel is idle, and a larger second period may be set; and ifthe number of times for transmitting the RMSI successfully in apredetermined time period does not exceed the preset threshold, asmaller second period should be set. Similarly, if the time elapsedsince last transmitting the RMSI successfully is shorter than a presetvalue (the preset value may be the second period or may be a multiple ofthe second period), it is determined that the channel is idle, and alarger first period may be set; and if the time elapsed since lasttransmitting the RMSI successfully is not shorter than the preset value,a smaller first period should be set.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic example of adjustment of a second period. Asshown in FIG. 6 , the base station attempts to access the channel at atime instant t1, and the LBT fails, so the RMSI is not transmitted.According to the normal second period, the base station should attemptto transmit the RMSI at a time instant t3. However, since the RMSI isnot successfully transmitted at the time instant t1, the second periodis adjusted, for example, the second period is reduced to be a half ofthe original second period, so the base station attempts to access thechannel to transmit the RMSI at a time instant t2. The information aboutadjusting of the second period may be transmitted to the UE via the MIB,such that the UE can know to attempt to receive the RMSI at the timeinstant t2.

As mentioned above, the utilization status of the channel is required tobe saved for adjusting the transmitting period of the MIB and/or theRMSI. Therefore, the electronic apparatus 100 may further include astorage which is configured to store information of utilization statusof the at least a part of the unlicensed channels.

With the electronic apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure,the MIB and RMSI are transmitted redundantly, realizing reliabletransmission of the MIB and the RMSI in the SA scenario.

Second Embodiment

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing functional modules of an electronicapparatus 200 for wireless communications according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 7 , the electronic apparatus200 includes: a determination unit 201 and a detection unit 202. Thedetermination unit 201 is configured to determine a period for detectingthe MIB. The detection unit 202 is configured to detect a plurality ofunlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band at the period toacquire the MIB, where the MIBs on the plurality of unlicensed channelshave the same content, and the MIB includes a part of minimum systeminformation.

The determination unit 201 and the detection unit 202 may be implementedby one or more processing circuitries, and the processing circuitry, forexample, may be implemented as a chip. Moreover, it should be notedthat, functional units in the apparatus shown in FIG. 7 are only logicmodules which are divided based on the specific functions thereof, andare not intended to limit the implementations.

The electronic apparatus 200, for example, may be arranged on userequipment (UE) side or may be communicatively connected to UE. It shouldbe noted that the electronic apparatus 200 may be implemented at a chiplevel or a device level. For example, the electronic apparatus 200 mayfunction as user equipment itself, and may include an external devicesuch as a memory and a transceiver (not shown in FIG. 7 ). The memorymay be configured to store programs and related data information forimplementing various functions by the user equipment. The transceivermay include one or more communication interfaces to supportcommunication with different devices (for example, a base station, otheruser equipment or the like). The implementation of the transceiver isnot limited here.

In order to normally complete cell search, synchronization, and otherrelated measurements, the UE needs to acquire system information from abase station, where the system information includes MIB, RMSI, and soon. The MIBs may be periodically broadcasted and transmitted, forexample, via a PBCH.

As mentioned above, in order to allow the UE to listen to the MIB morereliably, the base station may transmit MIBs with the same content onthe plurality of unlicensed channels. The determination unit 101determines the period for detecting the MIBs. The period may bedetermined according to, for example, one or more of the following: atransmitting period of the MIB, a quantity of electricity of UE wherethe electronic apparatus 200 is located. For example, if thetransmitting period is long, a long period for detecting the MIB by theUE is set; and if the quantity of electricity of the UE is low, a longperiod for detecting the MIB by the UE is set to reduce powerconsumption.

The detection unit 202 periodically attempts to access the plurality ofunlicensed channels to listen to the MIB at the period determined by thedetermination unit 201. In the SA scenario, the detection unit 202 may,for example, determine whether a channel is available by performing LBT,and access the channel if the LBT indicates that the channel isavailable, to acquire the MIB transmitted thereon.

In an example, one or more different unlicensed channels may bedesignated as a fixed system information access anchor for differentoperators. In this case, the detection unit 202 detects only thedesignated unlicensed channels and receives the MIB on an unlicensedchannel of which a detection result indicates that the channel isavailable.

In an example, in order to increase the probability that the UEcorrectly receives the MIB, there may be multiple consecutive MIBs withthe same content in one transmitting period of the MIB.

After receiving the MIB, the UE continues to receive the RMSI. Forexample, the RMSI may be transmitted via a PDSCH. As an example, thedetermination unit 201 is further configured to determine, based on theacquired MIB, a receiving window for receiving the RMSI, and thedetection unit 202 is further configured to perform channel detection ona particular unlicensed channel within the receiving window to receivethe RMSI.

Similarly, the detection unit 202 may, for example, perform LBT on aparticular unlicensed channel to determine whether the channel isavailable, and attempt to receive the RMSI on the particular unlicensedchannel if the LBT indicates that the channel is available until theRMSI is received successfully.

For example, the MIB may further include a transmitting period of theRMSI and the number of times N for transmitting the RMSI in onetransmitting period, and the detection unit 202 is configured to receivethe RMSI for the number of times N within the receiving window a lengthof which equals to the transmitting period of the RMSI, N being apositive integer. Referring back to the example shown in FIG. 5 , thesecond period shown in FIG. 5 is the transmitting period of the RMSI,and the detection unit 202 attempts to receive the RMSI for three timeswithin the second period. In the example, N=3. It should be understoodthat if the RMSI is successfully received with the number of attemptsless than N, following reception attempts are no longer performed. Forexample, in the example shown in FIG. 5 , if the RMSI is successfullyreceived in the second attempt, the third reception attempt is no longerperformed.

As mentioned above, the base station may adjust the transmitting periodof the MIB and the transmitting period of the RMSI based on theutilization status of the unlicensed channels. For example, the basestation adjusts the transmitting period of the MIB based on the numberof times for transmitting the MIBs successfully in the predeterminedtime period or the time elapsed after since last transmitting the MIBsuccessfully, and the base station adjusts the transmitting period ofthe RMSI based on the number of times for transmitting the RMSIsuccessfully in the predetermined time period or the time elapsed sincelast transmitting the RMSI successfully.

Therefore, the MIB may further include information of adjusting of atransmitting period of the RMSI and/or information of adjusting of atransmitting period of the MIB, and the detection unit 202 is configuredto receive the RMSI or the MIB based on the adjusted transmittingperiod. Similarly, the information about adjusting may include, forexample, a size of the adjusted transmitting period or a rule foradjusting.

For example, referring back to the example shown in FIG. 6 , theadjusted transmitting period of the RMSI is a half of the originaltransmitting period of the RMSI, and the information about adjusting maybe included in the previously received MIB. The detection unit 202receives the RMSI with the adjusted transmitting period. For example,the detection unit 202 begins to attempt to receive the RMSI within aperiod starting at a time instant t2 (assuming that no delay isconsidered).

With the electronic apparatus 200 according to the present disclosure,the MIB and RMSI transmitted redundantly can be received, realizingreliable transmission of the MIB and the RMSI in the SA scenario.

Third Embodiment

In the process of describing the electronic apparatus for wirelesscommunications in the embodiments described above, obviously, someprocessing and methods are also disclosed. Hereinafter, an overview ofthe methods is given without repeating some details disclosed above.However, it should be noted that, although the methods are disclosed ina process of describing the electronic apparatus for wirelesscommunications, the methods do not certainly employ or are not certainlyexecuted by the aforementioned components. For example, the embodimentsof the electronic apparatus for wireless communications may be partiallyor completely implemented with hardware and/or firmware, the methods forwireless communications described below may be executed by acomputer-executable program completely, although the hardware and/orfirmware of the electronic apparatus for wireless communications canalso be used in the methods.

FIG. 8 shows a flow chart of a method for wireless communicationsaccording to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, the method includes: performing periodical channel detection on aplurality of unlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band at afirst period (S11); and transmitting, on each of at least a part ofunlicensed channels of which channel detection results indicate that thechannels are available, a master information block (MIB) with the samecontent to user equipment respectively (S12). The MIB includes a part ofminimum system information.

In step S12, the MIB may be transmitted on each of the at least a partof unlicensed channels for multiple times consecutively within one firstperiod. For example, the MIB may be transmitted via a physical broadcastchannel.

In step S11, the first period may be adjusted based on utilizationstatus of the at least a part of unlicensed channels, and in step S12,information about adjusting of the first period is included in the MIB.For example, the utilization status of the at least a part of theunlicensed channels includes one or more of the following: the number oftimes for transmitting the MIB successfully in a predetermined timeperiod; and a time elapsed since last transmitting the MIB successfully.The information of utilization status of the at least a part of theunlicensed channels, for example, may be stored in a storage.

In addition, as shown by the dashed line block in FIG. 8 , the methodmay further include the following steps: performing periodical channeldetection on a particular unlicensed channel at a second period (S13);and transmitting, on a particular unlicensed channel, remaining minimumsystem information (RMSI) in a case that a channel detection resultindicates that the particular unlicensed channel is available (S14).

The RMSI includes information indicating different contents contained ina synchronization signal block. The RMSI may be transmitted via aphysical downlink share channel. The MIB may include information of areceiving window for the RMSI.

In step S14, the RMSI may be transmitted on the particular unlicensedchannel consecutively for multiple times within one second period.Information of the number of times for transmitting the RMSI within onesecond period may be included in the MIB.

In step S13, the second period may further be adjusted based onutilization status of the particular unlicensed channel, and informationabout adjusting of the second period is included in the MIB. Theutilization status of the particular unlicensed channel includes one ormore of the following: the number of times for transmitting the RMSIsuccessfully in a predetermined time period; and a time elapsed sincelast transmitting the RMSI successfully.

FIG. 9 shows a flow chart of a method for wireless communicationsaccording to another embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown inFIG. 9 , the method includes: determining a period for detecting amaster information block (MIB) (S21); and detecting a plurality ofunlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band at the period toacquire the MIB (S22). The MIB on each of the multiple unlicensedchannels has the same content, and the MIB includes a part of minimumsystem information.

In step S21, the period may be determined according to one or more ofthe following: a transmitting period of the MIB, a quantity ofelectricity of user equipment where the electronic apparatus is located.The MIB may be received via a physical broadcast channel.

There may be multiple consecutive MIBs with the same content in onetransmitting period of the MIB.

As shown by the dashed line block in FIG. 9 , the method may furtherinclude: determining, based on the acquired MIB, a receiving window forreceiving the RMSI (S23); and performing channel detection on aparticular unlicensed channel within the receiving window to receive theRMSI (S24).

The MIB may further include a transmitting period of the RMSI and thenumber of times N for transmitting the RMSI in one transmitting period.In step S24, the RMSI is received for the number of times N within thereceiving window a length of which equals to the transmitting period ofthe RMSI, where N is a positive integer. The RMSI may be received via aphysical downlink share channel.

In addition, the MIB may further include information of adjusting of atransmitting period of the RMSI and/or information of adjusting of atransmitting period of the MIB. In step S24, the RMSI or the MIB isreceived based on the adjusted transmitting period.

It should be noted that the above methods may be performed incombination or separately. Details of the above methods are described indetail in the first to second embodiments, and are not repeated herein.

The technology according to the present disclosure is applicable tovarious products.

For example, the electronic apparatus 100 may be implemented as variousbase stations. The base station may be implemented as any type ofevolution Node B (eNB) or gNB (a 5G base station). The eNB includes, forexample, a macro eNB and a small eNB. The small eNB may be an eNB, suchas a pico eNB, a micro eNB, and a home (femto) eNB, which covers a cellsmaller than a macro cell. The case for the gNB is similar to the above.Alternatively, the base station may be implemented as any other type ofbase station, such as a NodeB and a base transceiver station (BTS). Thebase station may include a body (which is also referred to as a basestation device) configured to control wireless communications; and oneor more remote radio heads (RRHs) arranged in a different position fromthe body. In addition, various types of user equipments may operate asthe base station by temporarily or semi-persistently executing a basestation function.

The electronic apparatus 200 may be implemented as various userequipments. The user equipment may be implemented as a mobile terminal(such as a smartphone, a tablet personal computer (PC), a notebook PC, aportable game terminal, a portable/dongle-type mobile router, and adigital camera device) or an in-vehicle terminal such as a carnavigation apparatus. The user equipment may also be implemented as aterminal (also referred to as a machine type communication (MTC)terminal) that performs machine-to-machine (M2M) communication. Inaddition, the user equipment may be a wireless communication module(such as an integrated circuit module including a single chip) mountedon each of the terminals described above.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES REGARDING A BASE STATION First Application Example

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing a first example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB or a gNB to which the technology of the presentdisclosure may be applied. It should be noted that the followingdescription is given by taking the eNB as an example, which is alsoapplicable to the gNB. An eNB 800 includes one or more antennas 810 anda base station apparatus 820. The base station apparatus 820 and each ofthe antennas 810 may be connected to each other via a radio frequency(RF) cable.

Each of the antennas 810 includes a single or multiple antennal elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in a multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) antenna), and is used for the base stationapparatus 820 to transmit and receive wireless signals. As shown in FIG.10 , the eNB 800 may include the multiple antennas 810. For example, themultiple antennas 810 may be compatible with multiple frequency bandsused by the eNB 800. Although FIG. 10 shows the example in which the eNB800 includes the multiple antennas 810, the eNB 800 may also include asingle antenna 810.

The base station apparatus 820 includes a controller 821, a memory 822,a network interface 823, and a radio communication interface 825.

The controller 821 may be, for example, a CPU or a DSP, and operatesvarious functions of a higher layer of the base station apparatus 820.For example, the controller 821 generates a data packet from data insignals processed by the radio communication interface 825, andtransfers the generated packet via the network interface 823. Thecontroller 821 may bundle data from multiple base band processors togenerate the bundled packet, and transfer the generated bundled packet.The controller 821 may have logical functions of performing control suchas radio resource control, radio bearer control, mobility management,admission control and scheduling. The control may be performed incorporation with an eNB or a core network node in the vicinity. Thememory 822 includes a RAM and a ROM, and stores a program executed bythe controller 821 and various types of control data (such as terminallist, transmission power data and scheduling data).

The network interface 823 is a communication interface for connectingthe base station apparatus 820 to a core network 824. The controller 821may communicate with a core network node or another eNB via the networkinterface 823. In this case, the eNB 800, and the core network node oranother eNB may be connected to each other via a logic interface (suchas an S1 interface and an X2 interface). The network interface 823 mayalso be a wired communication interface or a wireless communicationinterface for wireless backhaul. If the network interface 823 is awireless communication interface, the network interface 823 may use ahigher frequency band for wireless communication than that used by theradio communication interface 825.

The radio communication interface 825 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as Long Term Evolution (LTE) andLTE-advanced), and provides wireless connection to a terminal located ina cell of the eNB 800 via the antenna 810. The radio communicationinterface 825 may typically include, for example, a baseband (BB)processor 826 and an RF circuit 827. The BB processor 826 may perform,for example, encoding/decoding, modulating/demodulating, andmultiplexing/demultiplexing, and performs various types of signalprocessing of layers (such as L1, Media Access Control (MAC), Radio LinkControl (RLC), and a Packet Data Convergence Protocol (PDCP)). The BBprocessor 826 may have a part or all of the above-described logicalfunctions instead of the controller 821. The BB processor 826 may be amemory storing communication control programs, or a module including aprocessor and a related circuit configured to execute the programs.Updating the program may allow the functions of the BB processor 826 tobe changed. The module may be a card or a blade that is inserted into aslot of the base station apparatus 820. Alternatively, the module mayalso be a chip that is mounted on the card or the blade. Meanwhile, theRF circuit 827 may include, for example, a mixer, a filter, and anamplifier, and transmits and receives wireless signals via the antenna810.

As shown in FIG. 10 , the radio communication interface 825 may includethe multiple BB processors 826. For example, the multiple BB processors826 may be compatible with multiple frequency bands used by the eNB 800.The radio communication interface 825 may include multiple RF circuits827, as shown in FIG. 10 . For example, the multiple RF circuits 827 maybe compatible with multiple antenna elements. Although FIG. 10 shows theexample in which the radio communication interface 825 includes themultiple BB processors 826 and the multiple RF circuits 827, the radiocommunication interface 825 may also include a single BB processor 826and a single RF circuit 827.

In the eNB 800 shown in FIG. 10 , a transceiver of the electronicapparatus 100 may be implemented by the radio communication interface825. At least a part of the functions may also be implemented by thecontroller 821. For example, the controller 821 may perform thefunctions of the channel detection unit 101 and the transmission unit102 to realize redundant transmission and reliable transmission of theMIB and the RMSI in the SA scenario.

Second Application Example

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a second example of a schematicconfiguration of an eNB or a gNB to which the technology according tothe present disclosure may be applied. It should be noted that thefollowing description is given by taking the eNB as an example, which isalso applied to the gNB. An eNB 830 includes one or more antennas 840, abase station apparatus 850, and an RRH 860. The RRH 860 and each of theantennas 840 may be connected to each other via an RF cable. The basestation apparatus 850 and the RRH 860 may be connected to each other viaa high speed line such as an optical fiber cable.

Each of the antennas 840 includes a single or multiple antennal elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and isused for the RRH 860 to transmit and receive wireless signals. As shownin FIG. 11 , the eNB 830 may include the multiple antennas 840. Forexample, the multiple antennas 840 may be compatible with multiplefrequency bands used by the eNB 830. Although FIG. 11 shows the examplein which the eNB 830 includes the multiple antennas 840, the eNB 830 mayalso include a single antenna 840.

The base station apparatus 850 includes a controller 851, a memory 852,a network interface 853, a radio communication interface 855, and aconnection interface 857. The controller 851, the memory 852, and thenetwork interface 853 are the same as the controller 821, the memory822, and the network interface 823 described with reference to FIG. 12 .

The radio communication interface 855 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as LTE and LTE-advanced), and provideswireless communication to a terminal located in a sector correspondingto the RRH 860 via the RRH 860 and the antenna 840. The radiocommunication interface 855 may typically include, for example, a BBprocessor 856. The BB processor 856 is the same as the BB processor 826described with reference to FIG. 10 , except that the BB processor 856is connected to an RF circuit 864 of the RRH 860 via the connectioninterface 857. As show in FIG. 11 , the radio communication interface855 may include the multiple BB processors 856. For example, themultiple BB processors 856 may be compatible with multiple frequencybands used by the eNB 830. Although FIG. 11 shows the example in whichthe radio communication interface 855 includes the multiple BBprocessors 856, the radio communication interface 855 may also include asingle BB processor 856.

The connection interface 857 is an interface for connecting the basestation apparatus 850 (radio communication interface 855) to the RRH860. The connection interface 857 may also be a communication module forcommunication in the above-described high speed line that connects thebase station apparatus 850 (radio communication interface 855) to theRRH 860.

The RRH 860 includes a connection interface 861 and a radiocommunication interface 863.

The connection interface 861 is an interface for connecting the RRH 860(radio communication interface 863) to the base station apparatus 850.The connection interface 861 may also be a communication module forcommunication in the above-described high speed line.

The radio communication interface 863 transmits and receives wirelesssignals via the antenna 840. The radio communication interface 863 maytypically include, for example, the RF circuit 864. The RF circuit 864may include, for example, a mixer, a filter and an amplifier, andtransmits and receives wireless signals via the antenna 840. The radiocommunication interface 863 may include multiple RF circuits 864, asshown in FIG. 11 . For example, the multiple RF circuits 864 may supportmultiple antenna elements. Although FIG. 11 shows the example in whichthe radio communication interface 863 includes the multiple RF circuits864, the radio communication interface 863 may also include a single RFcircuit 864.

In the eNB 800 shown in FIG. 11 , a transceiver of the electronicapparatus 100 may be implemented by the radio communication interface825. At least a part of the functions may also be implemented by thecontroller 821. For example, the controller 821 may perform thefunctions of the channel detection unit 101 and the transmission unit102 to realize redundant transmission and reliable transmission of theMIB and the RMSI in the SA scenario.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES REGARDING USER EQUIPMENT First Application Example

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating an example of exemplaryconfiguration of a smartphone 900 to which the technology of the presentdisclosure may be applied. The smartphone 900 includes a processor 901,a memory 902, a storage 903, an external connection interface 904, acamera 906, a sensor 907, a microphone 908, an input device 909, adisplay device 910, a speaker 911, a radio communication interface 912,one or more antenna switches 915, one or more antennas 916, a bus 917, abattery 918, and an auxiliary controller 919.

The processor 901 may be, for example, a CPU or a system on a chip(SoC), and controls functions of an application layer and another layerof the smartphone 900. The memory 902 includes a RAM and a ROM, andstores a program executed by the processor 901 and data. The storage 903may include a storage medium such as a semiconductor memory and a harddisk. The external connection interface 904 is an interface forconnecting an external device (such as a memory card and a universalserial bus (USB) device) to the smartphone 900.

The camera 906 includes an image sensor (such as a charge coupled device(CCD) and a complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS)), andgenerates a captured image. The sensor 907 may include a group ofsensors, such as a measurement sensor, a gyro sensor, a geomagnetismsensor, and an acceleration sensor. The microphone 908 converts soundsthat are inputted to the smartphone 900 to audio signals. The inputdevice 909 includes, for example, a touch sensor configured to detecttouch onto a screen of the display device 910, a keypad, a keyboard, abutton, or a switch, and receives an operation or information inputtedfrom a user. The display device 910 includes a screen (such as a liquidcrystal display (LCD) and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED)display), and displays an output image of the smartphone 900. Thespeaker 911 converts audio signals that are outputted from thesmartphone 900 to sounds.

The radio communication interface 912 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as LTE and LTE-advanced), and performs awireless communication. The radio communication interface 912 mayinclude, for example, a BB processor 913 and an RF circuit 914. The BBprocessor 913 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating, and multiplexing/de-multiplexing, and performvarious types of signal processing for wireless communication. The RFcircuit 914 may include, for example, a mixer, a filter and anamplifier, and transmits and receives wireless signals via the antenna916. It should be noted that although FIG. 12 shows a case that one RFlink is connected to one antenna, which is only illustrative, and a casethat one RF link is connected to multiple antennas through multiplephase shifters may also exist. The radio communication interface 912 maybe a chip module having the BB processor 913 and the RF circuit 914integrated thereon. The radio communication interface 912 may includemultiple BB processors 913 and multiple RF circuits 914, as shown inFIG. 12 . Although FIG. 12 shows the example in which the radiocommunication interface 912 includes the multiple BB processors 913 andthe multiple RF circuits 914, the radio communication interface 912 mayalso include a single BB processor 913 or a single RF circuit 914.

Furthermore, in addition to a cellular communication scheme, the radiocommunication interface 912 may support another type of wirelesscommunication scheme such as a short-distance wireless communicationscheme, a near field communication scheme, and a radio local areanetwork (LAN) scheme. In this case, the radio communication interface912 may include the BB processor 913 and the RF circuit 914 for eachwireless communication scheme.

Each of the antenna switches 915 switches connection destinations of theantennas 916 among multiple circuits (such as circuits for differentwireless communication schemes) included in the radio communicationinterface 912.

Each of the antennas 916 includes a single or multiple antenna elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna) and isused for the radio communication interface 912 to transmit and receivewireless signals. The smartphone 900 may include the multiple antennas916, as shown in FIG. 12 . Although FIG. 12 shows the example in whichthe smartphone 900 includes the multiple antennas 916, the smartphone900 may also include a single antenna 916.

Furthermore, the smartphone 900 may include the antenna 916 for eachwireless communication scheme. In this case, the antenna switches 915may be omitted from the configuration of the smartphone 900.

The bus 917 connects the processor 901, the memory 902, the storage 903,the external connection interface 904, the camera 906, the sensor 907,the microphone 908, the input device 909, the display device 910, thespeaker 911, the radio communication interface 912, and the auxiliarycontroller 919 to each other. The battery 918 supplies power to blocksof the smart phone 900 shown in FIG. 12 via feeder lines that arepartially shown as dashed lines in FIG. 12 . The auxiliary controller919, operates a minimum necessary function of the smart phone 900, forexample, in a sleep mode.

In the smart phone 900 shown in FIG. 12 , the transceiver of theelectronic apparatus 200 may be implemented by the radio communicationinterface 912. At least a part of the functions may be implemented bythe processor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919. For example, theprocessor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919 may perform the functionsof the determination unit 201 and the detection unit 202 to realizereliable transmission of the MIBs and the RMSI in the SA scenario.

Second Application Example

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing an example of a schematicconfiguration of a car navigation apparatus 920 to which the technologyaccording to the present disclosure may be applied. The car navigationapparatus 920 includes a processor 921, a memory 922, a globalpositioning system (GPS) module 924, a sensor 925, a data interface 926,a content player 927, a storage medium interface 928, an input device929, a display device 930, a speaker 931, a radio communicationinterface 933, one or more antenna switches 936, one or more antennas937, and a battery 938.

The processor 921 may be, for example a CPU or a SoC, and controls anavigation function and additional function of the car navigationapparatus 920. The memory 922 includes RAM and ROM, and stores a programthat is executed by the processor 921, and data.

The GPS module 924 determines a position (such as latitude, longitudeand altitude) of the car navigation apparatus 920 by using GPS signalsreceived from a GPS satellite. The sensor 925 may include a group ofsensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor and an air pressuresensor. The data interface 926 is connected to, for example, anin-vehicle network 941 via a terminal that is not shown, and acquiresdata (such as vehicle speed data) generated by the vehicle.

The content player 927 reproduces content stored in a storage medium(such as a CD and a DVD) that is inserted into the storage mediuminterface 928. The input device 929 includes, for example, a touchsensor configured to detect touch onto a screen of the display device930, a button, or a switch, and receives an operation or informationinputted from a user. The display device 930 includes a screen such asan LCD or OLED display, and displays an image of the navigation functionor content that is reproduced. The speaker 931 outputs sounds for thenavigation function or the content that is reproduced.

The radio communication interface 933 supports any cellularcommunication scheme (such as LTE and LTE-Advanced), and performswireless communication. The radio communication interface 933 maytypically include, for example, a BB processor 934 and an RF circuit935. The BB processor 934 may perform, for example, encoding/decoding,modulating/demodulating and multiplexing/demultiplexing, and performvarious types of signal processing for wireless communication. The RFcircuit 935 may include, for example, a mixer, a filter and anamplifier, and transmits and receives wireless signals via the antenna937. The radio communication interface 933 may also be a chip modulehaving the BB processor 934 and the RF circuit 935 integrated thereon.The radio communication interface 933 may include multiple BB processors934 and multiple RF circuits 935, as shown in FIG. 13 . Although FIG. 13shows the example in which the radio communication interface 933includes the multiple BB processors 934 and the multiple RF circuits935, the radio communication interface 933 may also include a single BBprocessor 934 and a single RF circuit 935.

Furthermore, in addition to a cellular communication scheme, the radiocommunication interface 933 may support another type of wirelesscommunication scheme such as a short-distance wireless communicationscheme, a near field communication scheme, and a wireless LAN scheme. Inthis case, the radio communication interface 933 may include the BBprocessor 934 and the RF circuit 935 for each wireless communicationscheme.

Each of the antenna switches 936 switches connection destinations of theantennas 937 among multiple circuits (such as circuits for differentwireless communication schemes) included in the radio communicationinterface 933.

Each of the antennas 937 includes a single or multiple antenna elements(such as multiple antenna elements included in an MIMO antenna), and isused by the radio communication interface 933 to transmit and receivewireless signals. As shown in FIG. 13 , the car navigation apparatus 920may include the multiple antennas 937. Although FIG. 13 shows theexample in which the car navigation apparatus 920 includes the multipleantennas 937, the car navigation apparatus 920 may also include a singleantenna 937.

Furthermore, the car navigation apparatus 920 may include the antenna937 for each wireless communication scheme. In this case, the antennaswitches 936 may be omitted from the configuration of the car navigationapparatus 920.

The battery 938 supplies power to the blocks of the car navigationapparatus 920 shown in FIG. 13 via feeder lines that are partially shownas dash lines in FIG. 13 . The battery 938 accumulates power suppliedfrom the vehicle.

In the car navigation apparatus 920 shown in FIG. 13 , the transceiverof the electronic apparatus 200 may be implemented by the radiocommunication interface 912. At least a part of the functions may beimplemented by the processor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919. Forexample, the processor 901 or the auxiliary controller 919 may performthe functions of the determination unit 201 and the detection unit 202to realize reliable transmission of the MIBs and the RMSI in the SAscenario.

The technology of the present disclosure may also be implemented as anin-vehicle system (or a vehicle) 940 including one or more blocks of thecar navigation apparatus 920, the in-vehicle network 941 and a vehiclemodule 942. The vehicle module 942 generates vehicle data (such as avehicle speed, an engine speed, and failure information), and outputsthe generated data to the in-vehicle network 941.

The basic principle of the present disclosure has been described abovein conjunction with particular embodiments. However, as can beappreciated by those ordinarily skilled in the art, all or any of thesteps or components of the method and apparatus according to thedisclosure can be implemented with hardware, firmware, software or acombination thereof in any computing device (including a processor, astorage medium, etc.) or a network of computing devices by thoseordinarily skilled in the art in light of the disclosure of thedisclosure and making use of their general circuit designing knowledgeor general programming skills.

Moreover, the present disclosure further discloses a program product inwhich machine-readable instruction codes are stored. The aforementionedmethods according to the embodiments can be implemented when theinstruction codes are read and executed by a machine.

Accordingly, a memory medium for carrying the program product in whichmachine-readable instruction codes are stored is also covered in thepresent disclosure. The memory medium includes but is not limited tosoft disc, optical disc, magnetic optical disc, memory card, memorystick and the like.

In the case where the present disclosure is realized with software orfirmware, a program constituting the software is installed in a computerwith a dedicated hardware structure (e.g. the general computer 1400shown in FIG. 14 ) from a storage medium or network, wherein thecomputer is capable of implementing various functions when installedwith various programs.

In FIG. 14 , a central processing unit (CPU) 1401 executes variousprocessing according to a program stored in a read-only memory (ROM)1402 or a program loaded to a random access memory (RAM) 1403 from amemory section 1408. The data needed for the various processing of theCPU 1401 may be stored in the RAM 1403 as needed. The CPU 1401, the ROM1402 and the RAM 1403 are linked with each other via a bus 1404. Aninput/output interface 1405 is also linked to the bus 1404.

The following components are linked to the input/output interface 1405:an input section 1406 (including keyboard, mouse and the like), anoutput section 1407 (including displays such as a cathode ray tube(CRT), a liquid crystal display (LCD), a loudspeaker and the like), amemory section 1408 (including hard disc and the like), and acommunication section 1409 (including a network interface card such as aLAN card, modem and the like). The communication section 1409 performscommunication processing via a network such as the Internet. A driver1410 may also be linked to the input/output interface 1405, if needed.If needed, a removable medium 1411, for example, a magnetic disc, anoptical disc, a magnetic optical disc, a semiconductor memory and thelike, may be installed in the driver 1410, so that the computer programread therefrom is installed in the memory section 1408 as appropriate.

In the case where the foregoing series of processing is achieved throughsoftware, programs forming the software are installed from a networksuch as the Internet or a memory medium such as the removable medium1411.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the memorymedium is not limited to the removable medium 1411 shown in FIG. 14 ,which has program stored therein and is distributed separately from theapparatus so as to provide the programs to users. The removable medium1411 may be, for example, a magnetic disc (including floppy disc(registered trademark)), a compact disc (including compact discread-only memory (CD-ROM) and digital versatile disc (DVD), a magnetooptical disc (including mini disc (MD)(registered trademark)), and asemiconductor memory. Alternatively, the memory medium may be the harddiscs included in ROM 1402 and the memory section 1408 in which programsare stored, and can be distributed to users along with the device inwhich they are incorporated.

To be further noted, in the apparatus, method and system according tothe present disclosure, the respective components or steps can bedecomposed and/or recombined. These decompositions and/or recombinationsshall be regarded as equivalent solutions of the disclosure. Moreover,the above series of processing steps can naturally be performedtemporally in the sequence as described above but will not be limitedthereto, and some of the steps can be performed in parallel orindependently from each other.

Finally, to be further noted, the term “include”, “comprise” or anyvariant thereof is intended to encompass nonexclusive inclusion so thata process, method, article or device including a series of elementsincludes not only those elements but also other elements which have beennot listed definitely or an element(s) inherent to the process, method,article or device. Moreover, the expression “comprising a(n)” in whichan element is defined will not preclude presence of an additionalidentical element(s) in a process, method, article or device comprisingthe defined element(s)” unless further defined.

Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been describedabove in detail in connection with the drawings, it shall be appreciatedthat the embodiments as described above are merely illustrative ratherthan limitative of the present disclosure. Those skilled in the art canmake various modifications and variations to the above embodimentswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure.Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is defined merely by theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. An electronic apparatus for wireless communications, comprising:processing circuitry, configured to perform periodical channel detectionon one or more unlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequency band at afirst period; and transmit, on each of at least a part of unlicensedchannels of which channel detection results indicate that the unlicensedchannels are available, for one or more times consecutively within onefirst period, a master information block (MIB) with the same content touser equipment, respectively, the MIB comprising a part of minimumsystem information.
 2. The electronic apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the processing circuitry is configured to transmit the MIB via aphysical broadcast channel.
 3. The electronic apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to:perform periodical channel detection on a particular unlicensed channelat a second period; and transmit, on the particular unlicensed channel,remaining minimum system information (RMSI) in a case that a channeldetection result indicates that the particular unlicensed channel isavailable.
 4. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein theMIB comprises information indicating a receiving window for the RMSI. 5.The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the processingcircuitry is further configured to transmit the RMSI on the particularunlicensed channel for one or more times consecutively within one secondperiod.
 6. The electronic apparatus according to claim 5, whereininformation of the number of times for transmitting the RMSI within onesecond period is comprised in the MIB.
 7. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 3, wherein the processing circuitry is furtherconfigured to adjust the second period based on utilization status ofthe particular unlicensed channel, and comprise information aboutadjusting of the second period in the MIB.
 8. The electronic apparatusaccording to claim 7, wherein the utilization status of the particularunlicensed channel comprises one or more of the following: the number oftimes for transmitting the RMSI successfully in a predetermined timeperiod; and time elapsed since last time transmitting the RMSIsuccessfully.
 9. The electronic apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe processing circuitry is configured to transmit the RMSI via aphysical downlink share channel.
 10. The electronic apparatus accordingto claim 3, wherein the RMSI comprises information indicating differentcontents comprised in a synchronization signal block.
 11. An electronicapparatus for wireless communications, comprising: processing circuitry,configured to determine a period for detecting a master informationblock (MIB); detect one or more unlicensed channels on an unlicensedfrequency band at the period to acquire the MIB, wherein the one or moreMIBs on the one or more unlicensed channels have the same content, andthe MIB comprises a part of minimum system information; determine, basedon the acquired MIB, a receiving window for receiving remaining minimumsystem information (RMSI); and conduct search on a particular unlicensedchannel within the receiving window to receive the RMSI.
 12. Theelectronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processingcircuitry is configured to determine the period according to one or moreof the following: a transmitting period of the MIB, a quantity ofelectricity of user equipment where the electronic apparatus is located.13. The electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein there exista plurality of consecutive MIBs with the same content in onetransmitting period of the MIB.
 14. The electronic apparatus accordingto claim 11, wherein the MIB further comprises a transmitting period ofthe RMSI and the number of times N for transmitting the RMSI in onetransmitting period, and the processing circuitry is configured toreceive the RMSI for N times within the receiving window a length ofwhich equals to the transmitting period of the RMSI, N being a positiveinteger.
 15. The electronic apparatus according to claim 11, wherein theMIB further comprises information of adjusting of a transmitting periodof the RMSI and/or information of adjusting of a transmitting period ofthe MIB, and the processing circuitry is configured to receive the RMSIor the MIB based on the adjusted transmitting period.
 16. Acommunication method, comprising: performing periodical channeldetection on one or more unlicensed channels on an unlicensed frequencyband at a first period; and transmitting, on each of at least a part ofunlicensed channels of which channel detection results indicate that theunlicensed channels are available, for one or more times consecutivelywithin one first period, a master information block (MIB) with the samecontent to user equipment, respectively, the MIB comprising a part ofminimum system information.